Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Gelinas.
Hi Elizabeth, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
My entire life has been devoted to working with kids. As soon as I was old enough to babysit, I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to working with children in some form, whether as a pediatrician, school counselor, or educator. I started working in preschools as a summer job during college and fell in love with Early Childhood Development. During my sophomore year of college, I decided I wanted to be a teacher.
As soon as I graduated from school, I began applying to different alternative teaching certification programs around the country. I interviewed in Austin and fell in love immediately. I packed my car and moved to Austin in 2009, just as AISD announced a hiring freeze on all their schools. In a panic, I decided to apply for jobs at every preschool I could find in the city. I was hired at a small preschool in Central Austin and started working weekends at different bars to pay my bills. Preschool teachers have some of the lowest salaries among educators, so it is nearly impossible to support yourself without supplementing your income. At that time, I knew I wanted Early Education to be my focus, but I also knew that working three nights a week in a bar downtown in addition to teaching 40 hours a week wasn’t going to be maintainable for the rest of my life. I joined forces with two other women I was teaching with and we decided to open up our own school. I saved all my tips from my cocktail waitressing job and put every penny from my savings into opening our dream preschool. With our combined experience, knowledge, and passion, we opened Green Sprout Preschool – a nature-based preschool with a curriculum greatly influenced by both the Montessori and Reggio-Emilia Philosophies. We molded and shaped our dream preschool. We included everything from having a healthy snack program with edible school gardens to including extracurricular activities such as Spanish, Chinese and yoga. We developed a Peace Education Curriculum that teaches kids the importance of empathy, respect, and love for themselves, those around them, the environment, and all of Earth’s living creatures. Our dreams came true with hard work and a lot of dreaming and turning those dreams into our reality.
Green Sprout has grown and evolved a lot over the last 12 years. We have an incredible community of guides, parents, and students who have helped us thrive over the years. Green Sprout is a magical place and leaves a lasting imprint on the hearts of those who enter its doors.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
It has undoubtedly been a challenging road with lots of growing pains along the way. The pandemic was extremely difficult for Green Sprout as well as all schools, parents, and educators. Navigating the pandemic and how to remain open safely during that time was extremely stressful, especially because we wanted to keep everyone safe and for everyone to feel comfortable with the policies we had in place. There needed to be more guidance from licensing and the local health department during that time, so as the owner and director, I had to use my best judgment and make many big decisions that impacted the entire community. It was a lot of pressure for one person, especially someone who likes to keep everyone happy. I soon had to learn that not everyone will support every decision I make. Still, my job is to help support the larger community and do everything in my power to help every child, parent, and teacher feel safe and supported and provide a loving environment for all of them. We had a lot of teacher turnover in the last several years, so my greatest focus at this time is to continue to support my teachers in every way possible.
We’ve been impressed with Green Sprout Preschool, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am the owner of a preschool located in East Austin called Green Sprout Preschool. Green Sprout is more than a school. It is a community of loving and supportive parents, guides, and students; we are a nature-based school with a curriculum influenced by the Montessori and Reggio Emilia Philosophies. We have an overarching theme of Peace Education that runs through the classrooms, hallways, and playgrounds of Green Sprout and is influenced in every moment of our day. It emphasizes the importance of instilling empathy, love, acceptance, and respect in the hearts and minds of young children. They are our future, and we want the future of our world to continue to shift toward a more loving and accepting environment for all.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I have taken many risks in the opening of Green Sprout Preschool. I was only 23 when I decided to open a school in a city I had only called home for 6 months! I remember calling my parents to tell them I would put my entire savings into opening a preschool with two women I had just met. They thought I was crazy. My mom responded, “Well, I don’t know if that’s the best idea, but I also know you are stubborn and will likely do it anyway, so I might as well support you.” Thankfully, my parents have been my greatest supporters over the years, and even though they thought I was a bit crazy at first (I was), it has paid off.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.greensproutpreschool.com
- Instagram: @greensproutpreschool
Image Credits
Annie McArdle
